Secret Scent Of Lavender

The Party

“Here, the files you need.” Seth put a brown file on the table before sitting down in front of his friend. Rith picked it up, scanned it thoroughly and nodded his head at his older friend to show his gratitude.

“What is the point of this photo? Who are they?” Seth asked, pointing his long finger at the photo on the table.

“They were killed on the same night and same place as my father ten years ago.” His tone showed no emotion at all. The older boy looked at Rith before turning his attention to the photo.

“I heard only parents died. But what happened to the daughter?” Seth calmly questioned, staring at the face of the girl in the picture.

“That’s the point. She might be a victim or a culprit. We have no idea.” He remarked, staring at the picture intensely.

“What if she’s innocent?”

“Who knows…Time to list down the objectives. And you guys will help me to run the activities.” Rith said, turning to Kaiden who just got in the room. He shrugged his shoulders at Seth with questioning while Rith was just giving them a playful smirk.

The young detective got into his car, tossed a file to the back seat before his phone rang showing his mother’s incoming call. He picked up her call before starting the car engine.

“What can I help you, my beautiful doctor?”

‘Rith, can you do me a favor?’

“Sure, Mum.”

‘I got an invitation from your father’s friend but I can’t make it, so can you go to that party tonight?’

“Tonight? Okay then, just send me the address.”

‘Thanks, sweetheart.’

“Anything and anytime.”

He hung up, turning the car into a corner. It took ten minutes to arrive at his place. The door automatically opened, welcoming him, and he drove his car in. The house was not big, but it was not too small. It was painted dark brown and everything was decorated with dark colored furniture, so it looked mysterious and scary. Rith opened the door, revealing a dark living room. The boy let out a sigh before turning on the light to see a neat living room with black couches. Slowly, he sat down on the couch and stared blankly into space. He played with his own fingers while thinking, letting everything run freely in his head. After a while, he checked the time and headed into his room, showered and changed into a black suit before going out to the party where his mother had sent him the location.

The party was boring. Rith just sat in a corner after greeting some elders he knew. He barely got recognized by the people because he didn’t wish to show up with those powerful people.

The party went smoothly and Rith just observed some interesting things from that corner until something attractive happened.

In her long purple dress, a beautiful girl appeared, attracting every pair of eyes to turn to look at her in awe. She was very beautiful with that long wavy hair, perfect features and model-like figure. Her stares were sharp like a knife but it turned to another thing when she blinked, lovely. Her pink-purple lips always carried a small smile and men could just fall down if those lips curled into a wide smile. She was just too attractive. Men checked her out while women glared at her with jealousy. From the corner, Rith followed her every step she took with his bright eyes. He had to admit that she was gorgeous, but what got his full attention was the color of her body. From head to toe, he only found purple even though her hair was dyed with a purple shade.

She finally made her way to a VIP table and bowed to a man whose age was around forty before turning to bow at everyone with her always smiling face, showing her respect. Because she’s half Korean, she always used that way to greet people before giving them a handshake.

Rith carefully watched her expression and movements. She had very neat steps with a long straight back. Her posture was perfectly attractive. Everyone seemed not to get enough of her beauty. Her lips naturally gave a small smile. It never disappeared from her face, not even a second, and always tucked there at the corner of her lips.

The party finally ended. Many guests left and there were only the members of the VIP table there. Rith was also there the whole time. He didn’t move but kept his eyes on the beauty of the night. Without anyone’s attention, Rith slowly decided to make his way closer to the table in order to listen to their conversation.

“Thanks so much for your hands, Violet. You’re not only beautiful outside, but also inside. I wish I had a daughter like you.” A man beside her said and she nodded, accepting the praise.

“Yes, yes, that’s right. I also want a daughter like you,” another man added. Rith sat down on a chair pretending to grab a glass of water to drink.

“But last night, you said your daughter is always the best, Dude.” One of them mentioned it and they laughed loudly while Violet only had a small smile on. She seemed to be calm and steady all the time.

“Violet, I heard you’re an orphan, is it true? Or is it just a rumor?” One of the women asked with a sarcastic tone. Violet turned to look at her with her bright eyes before nodding.

“My parents are currently on vacation in Hawaii. I don’t realize if there’s such a rumor about me being an orphan. Or I missed something out there, Mrs. Dean?” Violet said slowly, but her voice was clear enough to be heard. Mrs. Dean changed her expression a bit before smiling.

“And I also heard that your parents, who are currently on vacation, are just adopters, not your biological parents. Am I right?” Mrs. Finn, Mrs. Dean’s friend added. By looking at their faces, everyone could know that they tried to embarrass Violet.

“Yes, you’re right. So I really missed that rumor. I’m sorry. So I have to go now. Thanks for tonight, Mr. John. I really enjoyed the party. Good night,” Violet said, before standing up. She turned her heels in a good way but before walking away, she turned to smile at Mrs. Dean and Mrs. Finn.

“To be clear, I was adopted ten years ago at the same time you adopted a baby boy from that orphanage, right Mrs. Dean? Good night. I hope you sleep well tonight.” Violet bowed and walked toward the door, still with her smile. Rith smiled, staring at the girl’s back before standing up.

“What? You adopted a baby boy three years ago? How come I don’t know?” Hundreds of questions were asked right after Rith walked out of the hall with his hands in his pockets.

His eyes scanned around the parking lot to spot a beautiful face in a black car. He silently leaned his back on the pillar as Violet drove her car off. Rith set his eyes on the number plate of her car before turning his heels and walking away.

Along the hallway, Violet moved her high heels into the house.

“I’m home,” Violet announced, and an old woman came out of the living room.

“Oh my, why don’t you tell me you're coming? I should have prepared something for you by now. You must be hungry.” She mumbled and was about to run to the kitchen, but Violet stopped her by grabbing her arm.

“I’m fine, Auntie. Can’t you see I just came back from the party? It means I’m so full already.” She softly said, pulling the old woman into the living room.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, and how are the kids?” The girl asked, sitting down on the couch and taking off her purple high heels.

“They’re asleep already. They become so obedient after you talked to them last week. I’m glad that they can change like that.”

“Nice. I’m glad.”

“Thank you so much, Sweetie.” She said, holding the girl's hands with her teary eyes.

“It’s nothing, Auntie. I help them because they should be helped. They are too innocent to deserve this cruel world.” Violet said slowly, staring at the elder also with her teary eyes. Her past taught her that point of view, she was living in that kind of world, the dark side of it.

“You’re so nice…that I think we don’t deserve you.”

“Well, I acknowledge it, okay. It’s late already. Good night, auntie.” Violet said, pecking the elder’s cheek before going into her room. She didn’t go to bed right away but grabbed some books to read on the couch beside the window until late at night.

Across from the house, stood a black car with our young detective. He stared at a room on the first floor which still had the light on. There, he realized that Violet was the girl who had provided bread and milk every morning for homeless people. She’s really something. Rith slowly took out his phone and put it to his ear.

“Hey...”

‘Sir, do you even know what time it is now?’ The husky voice came out of the phone.

“It’s 1 am in the morning.” Rith replied, checking his wristwatch. The other line groaned annoyingly, sounded like he could go back to sleep anytime.

“Find out who the owner is. I’m sending you the address. I need every detail of it.” He said, looking at the address.

‘Now?’

“Yep,”

‘Come on, Rith, it’s…’

“Thanks, bro.” Before Seth could protest, Rith hung up.

The boy groaned before getting up. He walked toward his computer. He had no choice but to help his friend because once he asked for his hand he really needed it, since he rarely asked for one.

Rith stared at Violet’s room until the light went off. He crossed his arms and slowly closed his eyes. And that night he slept in his car. He didn’t know why, but something about her urged him to know more.

Very early in the morning, the young detective was forced to awake from his deep sleep by a phone call. And with his eyes closed, he held the phone to his ears.

‘Rith, can you come over right now? Another man missed last night.’

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

Quickly, he hung up and was about to drive off, but his eyes caught the figure of a familiar face. Violet was getting in her car and drove off first. Rith decided to follow her until he saw her taking a basket out of the car and she walked toward the tunnel where homeless people stayed. She did it again. Rith was there observing her until she came back.

“How did it happen? And who is he?” Eagerly, Rith asked as soon as he got into the office.

“Evin Dean, the director of Spring House Organization. He was reported to be missing from the hotel today around three in the morning.” Seth explained, handing Rith a photo. Rith took it and looked at the man in the photo.

“Evin Dean?” Rith mumbled, trying to match the man’s face to the people he used to see.

“I saw him last night at a party,” Rith said, and Kaiden turned to him.

“I need to go to that hotel again. Seth, you have what I asked you to find, right?”

“Here you go.” He said, tossing a file to his friend.

“Thanks. You’re the best.”

“I know right.” Rith didn’t even hear his friend bragging as he was already dashing out.

*******

Mr. Dean, who was reported to be missing the night before, was tied to a chair in a dark room. There was no window nor any holes for any form of light to sneak in.

“Explain, why did you hurt her?” A sweet, calm voice, yet it was like a blade of a knife, came out from a dark corner of the room. Mr. Dean raised his head and tried to see through the darkness to where the voice came from.

“Who are you?” He asked huskily.

“Pay attention to my question, why did you hit her?” Steadily her voice came again, sending the shiver down the man’s back. He narrowed his eyes, still trying to see who it was.

“Who are you?!” He yelled to the dark figure.

“Instead of asking, you can only answer.” She gave a slight warning with her steady footsteps approaching him.

“I didn’t hit anyone.” He protested.

“I’m asking you to explain this.” Along with her voice came a video from a TV on the wall playing a video of a man slapping a girl rapidly.

“What?!” He got surprised and tried to struggle from the chair.

“Who…who are you? What do you want from me?!” He yelled. Her figure finally showed in full form in front of him. She owned a nice body line with that black suit but her face was covered with a mask and cap, only eyes could be seen.

“Who are you?”

“I’m not here to answer your question but to ask you,” She said, and her voice sent a shiver down his spine.

“What do you want?”

“To stop you,”

“Stop what?”

“Stop you from hurting everyone. Stop you from breathing.” The last part made Mr. Dean insane. He growled, trying to release himself from the chair.

“With this, you’ll sleep forever,” the girl said, showing a syringe containing a light purple liquid. His eyes widened at the sight of the poison in her hand.

“What do you want?! And what is that?!” He asked again and she sighed, bending down to look him in the eyes.

“I wonder if you ever understood the feeling of beating up like those girls you hit. They do not even deserve to be treated like that, yet you did hurt them like they’re some stray dogs.”

“They’re just useless money suckers. They just wanted money, they deserved to be beaten!” He shouted out loud, crazily loud.

“Then you deserve to sleep…forever. But now I’ll let you breathe for a few more days. Yes, inhale that, take that in and you’ll die slowly. I promise, it won’t hurt.” With her cold tone, she stepped closer. Terrified, the man stared at her with his wide eyes at the syringe which came closer and closer to his neck. His eyelids fell slowly like he was hypnotized by the d**g after three minutes.

*******